Goehring urges livestock producers to be ready to move

BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says livestock producers in flood-threatened areas of central and western North Dakota should be moving or be ready to move their animals away from danger.

BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says livestock producers in flood-threatened areas of central and western North Dakota should be moving or be ready to move their animals away from danger.

“Aerial surveys along the Missouri River and its tributaries have spotted livestock in danger of being cut off by rising water,” Goehring said. “Producers need to be moving those animals to higher ground now.”

Goehring said the rising water of the Missouri River will not only impact adjacent, low-lying lands, but may cause tributaries to back up, flooding additional land in Burleigh, Emmons, McLean, Morton, Oliver and Sioux counties.

“Pasture and grazing land along the Knife, Heart and Cannonball rivers, and smaller tributaries will possibly be going under water,” Goehring said. “Some highways and roads will likely be affected. It could be very difficult for producers to quickly move livestock.”

Goehring said producers should check their livestock, road conditions and access to roads daily.

“You need to be sure your livestock is safe, and you need to know that you can get them out if they are in harm’s way,” he said. “You should also continually monitor the weather in your area. Additional rainfall can lead to local flooding that will further compromise roads and force you to move immediately.”

Goehring said producers can contact their county emergency manager and extension agents for more information, including maps, about road conditions and possible flooding in their area.